The heavy snowfall this season, including more than 30 inches over the past couple of weeks, and cold temperatures have left a number of fire hydrants encased in ice.

According to Kudlak, “We have more than 2,000 fire hydrants in the city and the firefighters have been working diligently to clear as many as possible. This weekend we have a small window of rising daytime temperatures that will soften up the mounds of snow that have been plowed from the streets. It would be greatly appreciated if residents with hydrants on their property could help us out and clear them of snow.”

Temperatures are expected to drop again after the weekend and snow and ice will likely re-freeze around the hydrants.

“The longer it takes to reach a hydrant and get a hose hooked-up to it, the more time fire has to spread,” Kudlak said. “The time you spend to clear that hydrant may be the key to saving your property.”

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